Sheet metal roofing



Oct. 22, 1963 H. VOEGELI' SHEET METAL ROOFING Filed Aug. 17. 1960 INVENTOR. HENRY VOEGELI ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,107,454 SHEET METAL ROOFING Henry Voegeli, Cheshire, Conn., assignor to Anaconda American Brass Company, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Aug. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 50,258

6 Claims. (Cl. 50-214) This invention relates to metal roofs which are constructed with a plurality of elongated metal sheets and a plurality of joint strips. More particularly this invention provides the elements for laying a metal roof formed by withdrawing lengths of metal sheets from rolls and joining such lengths on the roof by means of a joint strip of novel design.

Heretofore known methods of laying metal roofs are both tedious and costly. This is principally due to the fact that the elements which went into making up the roof either are not constructed such that they could easily be joined, or are specially formed and often difiicult to handle, or both. Proper combination of these elements and therefore correct laying of the roof is, moreover, dependent upon the skill and experience of the roofer.

The present invention eliminates the need of extraordinary skill in laying a metal roof. The elements of the present invention are easily installed and fitted together, and thereby lend themselves to ease of assembly. And of major importance, the roof area is mostly covered by standard sheet or strip metal which can be delivered to the job in rolls. In accordance with the invention, the roofer need only secure a joint strip of the character provided by the invention to the surface to be roofed, and then unroll a metal sheet or strip of the desired length from a roll of metal sheting and insert the lower edge of this metal sheet into a recess designed to receive it in the joint strip. The roofer then applies another joint strip to the upper edge of the metal sheet by inserting this upper edge into a second recess which is formed therein for this purpose. The sequence of steps is then repeated until the entire area to be roofed is covered.

The metal roof of the present invention comprises a plurality of elongated metal sheets and a plurality of joint strips horizontally mounted on -a sloping surface to be roofed and secured parallel to each other. Each of the joint strips has an underlying portion, an intermediate portion, and an overlying portion. The underlying portion seats on the sloping surface and underlies the upper end of a first metal sheet. The intermediate portion overlies the upper end of a first metal sheet and underlies the lower end of a second metal sheet. The overlying portion overlies the lower end of the second metal sheet and has outlet means provided at its base for releasing any mois ture which penetrates between said overlying and intermediate portions.

The advantages of the new roof are not limited solely to the ease with which it is laid. The roofing elements themselves enhance the desirability of their use in that they promote ease of handling. The metal sheeting ordinarily comes in rolls and the joint strips being very narrow in width and substantially fiat in cross section, are readily packed in large numbers in the minimum of space and therefore each of these elements can be easily shipped or stored. Moreover, since a plurality of the joint strips may be butted at their edges without soldering until the desired length is attained, it is conceivable that several standard lengths could be marketed which would satisfy most all roofing needs. Furthermore since a metal sheet need never be cut from the roll until the length desired is known, practically all scrap loss is eliminated.

It is of course contemplated by the present invention that the roofing elements can be made from any suitable metal. Copper, and copper base alloys, plain, anodized,

or painted aluminum, zinc and zinc base alloys, and even galvanized, prepainted, or vitreous enameled steel, all are well-suited to this use. It is even possible, within the scope of the invention, to substitute non-metallic sheet material such as asphalt-impregnated roofing felt, plastic sheeting, or the like, for the metal sheet component of the invention. Furthermore, the invention may be applied to siding as well as roofing (siding in effect being roofing of infinitely steep pitch).

Referring first to FZIG. 1, wooden beams '10 are shown supporting a suitable primary sloping roof deck or surface 11. Horizontally mounted on the surface 11 and attached thereto by means of nails 12 is a joint strip 13. The joint strip .13 can be of any convenient length since a plurality of them can be butted together without soldering until they are equal in length to the length of the slop ing surface to be roofed. The joint strip 13 is adapted to securely hold and support the lower end of a metal sheet 1-4 and the upper end of a metal sheet 15. The metal sheets 14- and 15 may be of any convenient width and preferably is of a length great enough to extend the length of the roof deck.

Referring now to FIG. 2 as well as FIG. 1 the joint strip 13 is of unitary construction and is folded to define three distinct portions; an underlying portion 16, an intermediate portion 17, and an overlying portion 18. The underlying portion 16 is adapted to seat substantially flush on the surface .11 and to underlie the upper end of metal sheet 15. The intermediate portion 17 is formed by the joint strip 13 being folded along its upper edge 20, and by this fold, a narrow recess 21 into which the upper end of the metal sheet 15 is to be inserted and in which'the upper end of the metal sheet fits snugly, is defined between the underlying portion 16 and the intermediate portion 17. Also formed along the upper edge of the joint strip 13 by the fold and extending longitudinally along the length of the joint strip 13 is afastening margin 22. The fastening margin 22 is formed by the underlying portion 16 and the overlying portion 17 being substantially pressed together along a margin at the upper edge 20* of the joint strip 13. Thus, the fastening margin is of a reduced composite thickness with respect to the composite thickness of theportions defining the recess 21 into which sheet 15 is inserted. The fastening margin 22 as best shown in FIG. 2 is inclined toward the surface out of the plane in which the intermediate portion 1-7 lies. By being of a reduced composite thickness and so inclined, when the nail .12 is driven into the fastening margin to secure the joint strip 112 on the surface 1 1, its head may be driven down to the point where it is flush with the general surface of the fastening margin so that it will not create a bulge in the overlying metal sheet 1-4. A shoulder 23 *against which the upper edge of the metal sheet .15 abuts when it is properly inserted in the recess 21, is formed in' the recess 21 by the fastening margin 22.

At the opposite end to that along which the fastening margin 22 is formed, the intermediate portion 117 is folded out substantially normal from itself and then back over and against itself in resilient engagement therewith to de-v fine the overlying portion 18.. A second recess 24 is thereby defined between the intermediate portion 17 and the overlying portion 18. A base portion 25 is formed at the lower end of the overlying portion 18 where it is folded out substantially normal to the intermediate portion 17. The base portion 25 extends longitudinally along the length of the joint strip 13 and is formed with a plurality of weep holes 26 at spaced intervals. A flared end edge 27 is shaped at the upper edge of the overlying portion 18 where it extends outward and upward away from the intermediate portion .17. The flared end 27 facilitates insertion of the lower edge of the metal sheet 14 past that part of the overlying portion 18 which is in resilient engagement with the intermediate portion 17 and into the second recess 24 until the lower end of the metal sheet 14 rests on the base portion 25. The weep holes 26 are formed on the base portion to allow the escape of any moisture which may penetrate into the recess 24.

The method of roofing a surface with the new joint strip 13 and in combination with metal sheets 14 and 15 is a simple operation. Initially a joint strip is secured at the cave of the surface to be roofed, a roofing strip is uncoiled, cut to length, and inserted into the joint strip, thence the operation is a mere repetition of these steps until the area to be roofed is covered. Referring to FIG. 3, after a joint strip :13 or a series of such strips laid end to end is secured horizontally on the surface 11, a length of metal sheet 14 equal in length to the joint strip 13 is cut from a roll of metal sheeting. The lower end of the metal sheet 14 is inserted into the recess 24 defined between the overlying portion 18 and the intermediate portion 17, and is seated against the base portion of the overlying portion 18. The upper edge of the metal sheet 14 is then inserted into the narrow recess 21' defined by the underlying portion 16' and the intermediate portion 17' of the second joint strip 13' (or end-to-end series of such strips) until the edge of the metal sheet 14 abuts the shoulder 23 formed in the recess 21'. The second joint strip 13' is then secured to the surface 11 by means of nails 12' driven through the fastening margin 22' into the surface 11. Then a new strip of sheet metal is uncoiled and the sequence of steps is then repeated until the surface is substantially covered.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the ridge of the roof is reached a metal sheet is disposed within the recess 24' of the joint strip 13 in the same manner noted above. The sheet 30 then is bent over the ridge so that it substantially conforms to the angle of the ridge. The opposite end of the metal sheet 30 is then inserted into the recess 24" of a third joint strip 13" already horizontally secured on the other side of the ridge of the roof thereby providing a seamless ridge on the roof.

As described above, owing principally to the novel design of the joint strip, whereby it lends itself to ease of assembly with metal sheets, a relatively inexpensive metal roof can now be laid. The joint strips are economical to manufacture, store and ship, and since only a minimum amount of labor and time need be expended to roof a surface with these elements, greater use of metal roofs, which were formerly not economically feasible is now possible.

I claim:

1. A metal roof comprising a plurality of elongated metal sheets and a plurality of joint strips, said metal sheets and said joint strips being horizontally mounted on a sloping surface to be roofed and secured parallel to each other, said joint strips each comprising a folded metal piece of unitary construction having an underlying portion which seats substantially flush on said surface and underlies the upper end of a first of said metal sheets, an intermediate portion folded down substantially against said underlying portion and forming therewith a first recess in which the upper end of said first metal sheet fits snugly, said underlying and intermediate portions being of a reduced composite thickness adjacent said fold with respect to the composite thickness of said portions and said first metal sheet adjacent the mouth of said first recess to define a fastening margin extending longitudinally along the joint strip at the fold of said underlying and said intermediate portions, fastening means received by said fastening margin for connecting said joint strip to said surface, an overlying portion folded up from said intermediate portion and back over said intermediate portion and forming therewith a second recess in which the lower end of a second of said metal sheets fits snugly, and outlet means provided at the base of said overlying portion for releasing any moisture which may penetrate into said second recess.

2. A metal roof comprising a plurality of elongated metal sheets and a plurality of joint strips, said metal sheets and said joint strips being horizontally mounted on a sloping surface to be roofed and secured parallel to each other, said joint strips each comprising a folded metal piece of unitary construction having an underlying portion which seats substantially flush on said surface and underlies the upper end of a first of said metal sheets, an intermediate portion folded down substantially against said underlying portion and forming therewith a first recess in which the upper end of said first metal sheet fits snugly, a fastening margin formed at the fold of said underlying and said intermediate portions and extending longitudinally along the length of said joint strip, said fastening margin being inclined toward said surface and receiving fastening means for connecting said joint strip to said surface, a shoulder formed in said underlying portion by the inclination of said margin against which the upper end of said first metal sheet abuts, an overlying portion folded up from said intermediate portion and back over said intermediate portion and forming therewith a second recess in which the lower end of a second of said metal sheets fits snugly, and outlet means provided at the base of said overlying portion for releasing any moisture which may penetrate into said second recess.

3. A metal roof comprising a plurality of elongated metal sheets and a plurality of joint strips, said metal sheets and said joint strips being secured parallel to each other and horizontally mounted on a sloping surface to e roofed, said joint strips each comprising a folded metal piece of unitary construction having an underlying portion which seats substantially flush on said surface and underlies the upper end of a first of said metal sheets, an intermediate portion folded down substantially against said underlying portion and forming therewith a first recess in which the upper end of said first metal sheet fits snugly, a fastening margin formed at the fold of said underlying and intermediate portions and extending longitudinally along the length of said joint strip, said fastening margin being inclined toward said surface and receiving fastening means for connecting said joint strip to said surface, a shoulder formed in said underlying portion by the inclination of said margin against which the upper end of said first metal sheet abuts, an overlying portion folded up from said intermediate portion and back over said intermediate portion and forming therewith a second recess in which the lower end of a second of said metal sheets fits snugly, said overlying portion being folded to extend substantially normal from and then back over and against said intermediate portion in resilient engage ment therewith, and outlet means provided at the base of said overlying portion for releasing any moisture which may penetrate into said second recess.

4. A metal roof comprising a plurality of elongated metal sheets and a plurality of joint strips, said metal sheets and said joint strips being horizontally mounted on a sloping surface to be roofed and secured parallel to each other, said joint strips each comprising a folded metal piece of unitary construction having an underlying portion which seats substantially flush on said surface and underlies the upper end of a first of said metal sheets, an intermediate portion folded down substantially against said underlying portion and forming therewith a first recess in which the upper end of said first metal sheet fits snugly, a fastening margin formed at the fold of said underlying and said intermediate portions and extending longitudinally along the length of said joint strip, said fastening margin being inclined toward said surface and receiving fastening means for connecting said joint strip to said surface, a shoulder formed in said underlying portion by the inclination of said margin against which the upper end of said first metal sheet abuts, an overlying portion folded up from said intermediate portion and back over said intermediate portion and forming therewith a second recess in which the lower end of a second of said metal sheets fits snugly, said overlying portion being folded to extend substantially normal from and then back over and against said inter-mediate portion in resilient engagement there-With, a flared edge on said overlying portion extending outwardly and upwardly to aid insertion of the lower end of said second metal sheet into said second recess, and outlet means provided at the base of said overlying portion vfor releasing any moisture which may penetrate into the second recess.

5. A joint strip for use in constructing a roof in combination with a plurality of metal sheets wherein said joint strip is horizontally mounted on a sloping surface to be roofed such that it is capable of connecting the upper end of a first of said metal sheets and the lower end of a second of said metal sheets, said joint strip comprising a folded metal piece having an underlying portion adapted to seat substantially flush on a surface and underlie the end of a first metal sheet, an intermediate portion folded down substantially against said underlying portion and forming therewith a first recess in which the upper end of said first metal sheet fits snugly, said overlying and intermediate portions being of a reduced composite thickness adjacent said fold with respect to the composite thickness of said portions adjacent the mouth of said first recess to define a fastening margin extending longitudinally along the joint strip at the fold of said underlying and intermediate portions for receiving fastening means to connect said joint strip to said surface, an overlying portion folded up from said intermediate portion and back over said intermediate portion and forming therewith a second recess in which the lower end of a second metal sheet fits snugly, said overlying portion being folded to extend out from and then back over and against said intermediate portion in resilient engagement therewith, and outlet means provided at the base of said overlying portion for releasing any moisture which may penetrate into the second recess.

6. A joint strip for use in constructing a roof in com bination with a plurality of metallic sheets wherein said joint strip is horizontally mounted on a sloping surface to be roofed such that it is capable of connecting the upper end of a first of said metal sheets and the lower end of a second of said metal sheets, said joint strip comprising a folded metal piece of unitary construction having an underlying portion adapted to seat substantially flush on a surface and underlie the upper end of a first metal sheet, an intermediate portion folded down substantially against said underlying portion and forming therewith a first recess in which the upper end of said first metal sheet fits snugly, a fastening margin formed at the fold of said underlying and intermediate portions and extending longitudinally along the length of said joint strip, said fastening margin being inclined toward said surface and receiving fastening means for connecting said joint strip to said surface, a shoulder formed in said underlying portion by the inclination of said margin against which the upper end of said first metal sheet abuts, an overlying portion folded up from said intermediate portion and back over said intermediate portion and forming therewith a second recess in which the lower end of a second metal sheet fits snugly, said overlying portion being folded to extend substantially normal from and then back against said intermediate portion in resilient engagement therewith, a flared edge on said overlying portion extending outwardly and upwardly to aid insertion of the lower end of said second metal sheet into said second recess, and outlet means provided at the base of said overlying portion for releasing any moisture which may penetrate into the second recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 224,608 Rendle Feb. 17, 1880 2,740,166 Siering Apr. 3, 1956 2,897,930 Premich Aug. 4, 1959 

1. A METAL ROOF COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED METAL SHEETS AND A PLURALITY OF JOINT STRIPS, SAID METAL SHEETS AND SAID JOINT STRIPS BEING HORIZONTALLY MOUNTED ON A SLOPING SURFACE TO BE ROOFED AND SECURED PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, SAID JOINT STRIPS EACH COMPRISING A FOLDED METAL PIECE OF UNITARY CONSTRUCTION HAVING AN UNDERLYING PORTION WHICH SEATS SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH ON SAID SURFACE AND UNDERLIES THE UPPER END OF A FIRST OF SAID METAL SHEETS, AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION FOLDED DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY AGAINST SAID UNDERLYING PORTION AND FORMING THEREWITH A FIRST RECESS IN WHICH THE UPPER END OF SAID FIRST METAL SHEET FITS SNUGLY, SAID UNDERLYING AND INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS BEING OF A REDUCED COMPOSITE THICKNESS ADJACENT SAID FOLD WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPOSITE THICKNESS OF SAID PORTIONS AND SAID FIRST METAL SHEET ADJACENT THE MOUTH OF SAID FIRST RECESS TO DEFINE A FASTENING MARGIN EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ALONG THE JOINT STRIP AT THE FOLD OF SAID UNDERLYING AND SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS, FASTENING MEANS RECEIVED BY SAID FASTENING MARGIN FOR CONNECTING SAID JOINT STRIP TO SAID SURFACE, AND OVERLYING PORTION FOLDED UP FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION AND BACK OVER SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION AND FORMING THEREWITH A SECOND RECESS IN WHICH THE LOWER END OF A SECOND OF SAID METAL SHEETS FITS SNUGLY, AND OUTLET MEANS PROVIDED AT THE BASE OF SAID OVERLYING PORTION FOR RELEASING ANY MOISTURE WHICH MAY PENETRATE INTO SAID SECOND RECESS. 